An elegant table clock inspired by the legendary ocean liner Titanic was hailed as the most beautiful piece presented at Baselworld 2014, the biggest watch and jewelry show in the world, which is held every year in Basel, Switzerland. Created by the Swiss luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe, in collaboration with Belfast’s Lunn’s Jewellers, this clock is a statement that celebrates the 175th anniversary of Patek Philippe and the 60th anniversary of Lunn’s.

The central motif in the design of this beautiful clock is based on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic from Belfast Harbour. Production of the elegant piece began in 2011 under the supervision of Sandrine Stern, wife of Patek Philippe’s creative director Thierry Stern.

A team of skilled professionals worked tirelessly for several months to bring to life the details of the complicated cloisonné enamel dome inspired by the Titanic’s glass cupola, as well as the exquisite work of the dial, whose center boasts finely crafted translucent guilloche enamel the color of sand. Just the enameling work took more than 200 hours and used about 30 yards of gold ribbon and over 200 tiny gold sparkles that illuminate the windows of the Titanic.

The idea for this piece was born, accidentally, during Thierry Stern´s first visit to Ireland. His host, Peter Lunn, was aware of Stern’s fascination for the Titanic story and planned a tour of the Harland and Wolff shipyards, where the Titanic and its sister ship the Olympic were conceived.

That evening, during the gala dinner, Stern and Lunn agreed to work on a commemorative clock inspired by the Titanic. The masterpiece was finished in mid-2013 and was one of the seven pieces Patek Philippe produced that year. Currently, the clock is on display at Lunn’s headquarters in Queens Arcade, Belfast.

Every year Patek Philippe produces limited editions of unique timepieces that are not available in stores or catalogs. Among them, the Dome series, which features the models Jungle, Samurai, Flower Basket, Holiday in Thailand and Crystal Chandeliers— among others—and now also includes the beautiful Patek Titanic with its elegant dome. ■